real estate,buy,sell,house,home,realtor,agent,san antonio,market,relocating

Here is some timely advice we would like to pass on from Kate Leonard, Senior Loan Officer with SWBC.  We enjoy working with Kate as she provides professional and efficient service to our buyers:

It's that time again...time to start gathering all of that dreaded documentation to send to good old Uncle Sam! Recent stats say the IRS audited 1 out of every 97 returns last year, so it pays to be careful. And even though this may seem like a very painful process, taking just a few simple steps right now will make your tax filing far easier and more accurate.

Keep it together. Make a quick list of all the documents or statements that were needed to complete your return last year--or call your tax planning professional for a checklist. Use this as a checklist to make sure you have a good start on the documents you may need this year. As you receive tax documents in the mail, grab your checklist, and mark the item as received. Then, keep all of the tax documents together in a large file or envelope marked "2007 TAXES."

Do the math. According to the IRS, the most common mistake on tax returns is bad math--from transposed numbers to downright incorrect data. And with one document leading to the other, those errors can make a huge impact. And even if you use tax software, you're not off the hook--since they only add the info YOU put in. Double-check entries carefully.

Every last cent. The IRS receives copies of your Form 1099 earnings each tax season. So, they know how much you make in interest and dividend income, and they will use that info to double-check your filing information. Make sure you collect all your earnings statements and document them on your return.

Sign on the line. It sounds almost silly, but forgetting to sign a return is actually a fairly common oversight. And the IRS won't process a return that doesn't have a signature. So, make sure you sign to avoid resubmitting your paperwork and possibly paying late-filing fees.

Remember, there isn't a lot of room for error when you're dealing with the IRS. A slight miscalculation could mean the difference between getting a return and writing a check--or worse, paying a penalty. It pays to work with a tax professional. If you need a referral, contact us—we’ll be happy to help!

Source:  SWBC/Leonard/Skye

Here is some timely advice we would like to pass on from Kate Leonard, Senior Loan Officer with SWBC.  We enjoy working with Kate as she provides professional and efficient service to our buyers:

It's that time again...time to start gathering all of that dreaded documentation to send to good old Uncle Sam! Recent stats say the IRS audited 1 out of every 97 returns last year, so it pays to be careful. And even though this may seem like a very painful process, taking just a few simple steps right now will make your tax filing far easier and more accurate.

Keep it together. Make a quick list of all the documents or statements that were needed to complete your return last year--or call your tax planning professional for a checklist. Use this as a checklist to make sure you have a good start on the documents you may need this year. As you receive tax documents in the mail, grab your checklist, and mark the item as received. Then, keep all of the tax documents together in a large file or envelope marked "2007 TAXES."

Do the math. According to the IRS, the most common mistake on tax returns is bad math--from transposed numbers to downright incorrect data. And with one document leading to the other, those errors can make a huge impact. And even if you use tax software, you're not off the hook--since they only add the info YOU put in. Double-check entries carefully.

Every last cent. The IRS receives copies of your Form 1099 earnings each tax season. So, they know how much you make in interest and dividend income, and they will use that info to double-check your filing information. Make sure you collect all your earnings statements and document them on your return.

Sign on the line. It sounds almost silly, but forgetting to sign a return is actually a fairly common oversight. And the IRS won't process a return that doesn't have a signature. So, make sure you sign to avoid resubmitting your paperwork and possibly paying late-filing fees.

Remember, there isn't a lot of room for error when you're dealing with the IRS. A slight miscalculation could mean the difference between getting a return and writing a check--or worse, paying a penalty. It pays to work with a tax professional. If you need a referral, contact us—we’ll be happy to help!

Source:  SWBC/Leonard/Skye

real estate,buy,sell,house,home,realtor,agent,san antonio,market,relocatingAttachment:

DESPITE HIGH GAS PRICES, MORE BUYERS WANT OVERSIZED GARAGES

Home buyers in increasing numbers want garages with two or more spaces in their homes. Since the last survey taken regarding this item in 2004 by the National Association of REALTORS, oversize garages saw the biggest growth in terms of what recent buyers considered very important in a home, gaining 16 percentage points to 57%. In the 2007 Profile of Buyers' Home Feature Preferences, among buyers who purchased homes without this feature, 56% of them said they would have paid more for an oversize garage, compared to only 6% in the 2004 survey.

Hardwood floors and granite countertops each gained 7 percentage points, with 28% and 23%, respectively, of buyers viewing these features as "very important". Gaining 6 percentage points was cable/satellite TV-ready, at 46%.

Energy efficiency was more important to new-home buyers than buyers of existing homes, with 65% of new-home buyers saying it was very important compared to 39% of buyers of existing homes. Older buyers placed a higher priority on energy efficiency than did younger buyers.

From 2004 to 2006, the size of the typical home purchased increased by about 100 sqf to 1,840 sqf while the median number of bedrooms dropped from four to three during the same period. The median home age reported in the current survey is 12 years, down from 15 years in 2004.

More than half of home buyers believe their home has high investment potential, and another four out of ten believe it has moderate investment potential. Only 3% felt their home's investment potential was low. Six out of ten recent home buyers took on remodeling or home improvement projects within three months of their purchase. Close to half of home buyers who remodeled or made improvements updated their kitchen, and nearly half remodeled or improved a bathroom. New homeowners spent a median of $4,350 on home improvement or remodeling projects undertaken within three months of purchase.

"The fact that a majority of home buyers quickly remodel key areas of their homes ties into the fact that their home is a good, long-term investment," said Paul Bishop, NAR manager of real estate research. "Regardless of market conditions in the short term, when purchased for the long term, housing is one of the safest investments consumers can make."

Source: NAR, Skye